Thomas—Portrait of an Apostle: Proclus Constantinopolitanus and Romanus Melodus

Abstract

Of the homilies on the feast of Thomas, those from the hand of Proclus and Romanus the Melodist are two famous examples, which were composed in the Byzantine capital of Constantinople. Of the two ways in which the episode of Christ's appearance to the eleven disciples was interpreted by homilists of the Patristic and Byzantine Age, both Proclus and Romanus opted for the perspective according to which Thomas' movement from disbelief to faith was of great importance to future believers. In comparing the two homilies with each other, I have identified the following features characterizing the episode of the appearance of Christ : Thomas' change from disbelief and doubt to faith Thomas' absence Thomas' jealousy and lack of humility Thomas reprimanded Thomas' meddling right hand Thomas' inner penance Thomas' outer penance Thomas' credo Thomas' disbelief the source of the Church's universal faith